Report Ranks West Virginia Poorly in Bridge Quality

A new report says that West Virginia has some of the nation’s worst bridges.

The report from Transportation for America ranks West Virginia as having the 14th worst rate of deficient bridges in the nation.

West Virginia improved since the organization last ranked states in 2011. Then, it found 1,025 of the state’s bridges were structurally deficient. The newest report lists 952 bridges it says could become dangerous or closed without repair.

The group’s report is based on a national database of bridge inspections maintained by the Federal Highway Administration.

In West Virginia, one out of every eight bridges that motorists cross each is likely to be deteriorating to some degree, with 13.4 percent rated “structurally deficient.” That’s compared to only 11 percent nationwide.